COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior Anthony Papio hit his fifth home run of the season and junior Rob Galligan tossed six innings of one-run relief to earn his first career win as the No. 22 Maryland baseball team topped Cal State Fullerton, 9-5, at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Terrapins (27-10, 8-4) received three-hit performances from junior Kevin Martir and freshman Kevin Smith to lead the offense. Sophomore Brandon Lowe notched two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs.
In the first, Galligan was pressed into duty after starter Tayler Stiles was struck with a line drive on his second pitch of the game. The Titans were able to scratch out a run in that inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Terps responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Lowe doubled down the left field line before Smith was hit by a pitch. Martir then slapped a single to right, plating Lowe and moving Smith to third.
One batter later, Junior Jose Cuas reached on an error that allowed Smith to score. Papio then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases before Jamal Wade grounded into a double play to plate Martir.
After a spotless second for both teams, Fullerton nabbed a run in the third. Justin Vaught doubled and advanced to third on a flyout. Josh Estill brought Vaught home on a groundout to make the score 3-2 Maryland.
Martir provided the Terrapin response in the bottom half of the inning, slamming a double down the right field line to drive in Smith, who had reached on a single to left.
Galligan was solid in his six innings of relief. The junior struck out six and walked just one before being replaced by freshman Ryan Selmer in the seventh.
After Galligan's last inning of work in the sixth, the Terps added a couple of runs. Wade walked before freshman Kengo Kawahara singled to center field. Justin Morris then reached on an error to load the bases.
A couple of batters later, Lowe singled to center to plate Morris and Kawahara and give the Terps a 6-2 lead after six.
In the seventh, Papio extended the lead with a two-out homer to right field. Maryland grabbed two more runs in the eighth. Freshman Zach Jancarski singled in Morris, who had reached on a double. Lowe stepped up and reached on a fielder's choice that saw Jancarski put out at second before Smith doubled to plate the sophomore.
Fullerton added three runs in the ninth, but the Terrapins would hold on for a 9-5 victory.
The Terrapins and Titans will contest game three of the series Sunday at 1 p.m., at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
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